Top five tips for autumn lawn care

Autumn is the time of year that the lawn lover really needs to prove their commitment to their garden. To survive the British winter it is essential that the lawn is correctly prepared to create a hardy base to see it through the dormant growing period. Follow the advice from lawn care specialists TruGreen and your grass should look after itself until spring.

TruGreen’s lawn care experts advise that autumn treatment is best started as early as possible when the grass is still receptive and before the soil temperature drops and the lawn becomes dormant. Here are TruGreen’s top five tips.

1. Preparation:
Prepare your lawn by removing thatch (dead grass and organic matter) and moss by raking the surface with a spring-tine rake. This process is known as scarification.

2. Moss Control:
Autumn is one of the major growth periods for moss as it is when the spores are produced, so moss control should be one of your key focuses if your lawn is susceptible to it. The best way to eliminate moss from your lawn is by aeration, which will improve drainage and minimise moss growth. You can do this either by pushing a fork into the ground every 10cm (4in) or use a spiking machine.

3. Well dressed:
After the lawn has been aerated, apply a top dressing to improve the surface texture and the health of the soil beneath. Top-dressing is a mix of loam and sand - typically 70 - 80% sand (not sharp sand which can sometimes contain lime which will change the soil pH and affect the health of the grass) and 20 - 30% soil which can be bought ready mixed. Apply evenly onto your lawn using a spade or shovel and then work into the surface using the back of a rake.

4. Fertilising:
The object of autumn fertilisation is to make the walls of the grass cells as strong and healthy as possible to resist infection by disease. Autumn fertiliser is lower in nitrogen to prevent weak and fast growth of the leaves, high in potassium to increase tolerance to wear and tear. It will also include other components such as iron which will strengthen the plant and kill moss.

5. Finally:
If your lawn is suffering from large bare patches as a result of heavy summer usage, it may need to be seeded as it is unlikely to re-grow. After aerating the lawn apply the grass seed either by hand or using a mechanical spreader for larger areas and finish by raking it in thoroughly. Finally water twice a day to allow it to establish.

To carry out the above treatments TruGreen recommend you call in one of their specialists who will be able to use their expert knowledge and product know-how to assess your lawn and create a bespoke programme which will address its key needs.

TruGreen has almost 50 specialists nationwide who are fully qualified to carry out autumn lawn care. For more information or to find your nearest expert, visit trugreen.co.uk